Long tradition.Dear editor, Readers' letters published in the Journal probably express and generate more strong feeling than the normal run of editorials and articles. In this respect, several letters in the March edition are true to form. John Coleman's letter, for example, is undoubtedly heartfelt heart·felt adj. Deeply or sincerely felt; earnest. heartfelt Adjective sincerely and strongly felt: heartfelt thanks Adj. 1. in its compassion, but nevertheless offensive to Jews Jews [from Judah], traditionally, descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, whose tribe, with that of his half brother Benjamin, made up the kingdom of Judah; historically, members of the worldwide community of adherents to Judaism. and Judaism with its statement about "outmoded out·mod·ed adj. 1. Not in fashion; unfashionable: outmoded attire; outmoded ideas. 2. No longer usable or practical; obsolete: outmoded machinery. attitudes of the Old Testament." Mr. Coleman should be reminded that the texts of the Tanach, or Jewish Bible, do not exist in isolation, but are accompanied by a long established tradition of study and commentary exemplified most notably by the Talmud and Midrash. As Nathan Ausubel Nathan Ausubel (1898-1986) was a Jewish-American historian, folklorist and humorist. Biography Ausubel was born in Lezajsk, Galicia, the sixth of eight children, and immigrated with his family to New York City in 1907, where he later attended Columbia University. reminds us, "at no time did the Jews have a static or frozen philosophy of religion ... it grew and changed organically with the development of life itself through the ages." Mr. Coleman, in addressing a serious issue, wrongly implies an antithesis antithesis (ăntĭth`ĭsĭs), a figure of speech involving a seeming contradiction of ideas, words, clauses, or sentences within a balanced grammatical structure. Parallelism of expression serves to emphasize opposition of ideas. between the Old and New Testaments. In the light of tradition, they are parallel in addressing issues of tolerance and mercy. It was a Jewish sage who remarked that the basic message of Scripture is to love God and to love one's neighbour. All the rest, he said, is commentary. Amen! K. Corey, Keeble Toronto |
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